Role of altered G-protein expression in the regulation of myocardial adenylate cyclase activity and force of contraction in spontaneous hypertensive cardiomyopathy in rats.

OBJECTIVE

The question of this study was whether alterations in the inhibitory guanine-nucleotide binding protein alpha-subunits (G(i)alpha) contribute to alterations in adenylate cyclase regulation in hypertensive cardiomyopathy of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

DESIGN AND METHODS

G(i)alpha was measured by pertussis toxin-catalysed 32P-adenosine 5'-pyrophosphate (ADP)-ribosylation and radioimmunochemically by competition of rat myocardial membrane extracts to DS 4 antiserum binding to the 125I-radiolabelled C terminus of retinal transducin alpha (125I-KENLKDCGLF). Cardiac beta-adrenoceptors, m-cholinoceptors as well as isoprenaline-, guanine-nucleotide [Gpp(NH)p]- and forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity and inotropic responses to isoprenaline and carbachol were studied in SHR and age-matched Wistar-Kyoto (WKY, control) rats.

RESULTS

In native membranes of SHR there was an increase in pertussis toxin substrates, but a larger increase in the presence of non-ionic detergent Lubrol PX. The radioimmunological quantification of G(i)alpha revealed an increase in membrane extracts of SHR. In addition, myocardial beta-adrenoceptors and myocardial m-cholinoceptors were reduced in SHR compared with in WKY rats. Basal adenylate cyclase, isoprenaline-, Gpp(NH)p- and forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities were also reduced. However, in the presence of 5 mmol/l MnCl2 no differences in adenylate cyclase activities between SHR and WKY rats were detected under either condition.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study shows that the amount of G(i)alpha-proteins and not only pertussis toxin substrates are increased in membranes of hypertrophic hearts from SHR without heart failure. The results obtained with pertussis-labelling depended strongly on the substrate quality of G(i)alpha. Increased G(i)alpha expression and reduced beta-adrenoceptor number might have functional relevance in the regulation of adenylate cyclase activity and force of contraction in SHR. An increase in G(i)alpha expression might play a pathophysiological role, not only in terminal heart failure, but also in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.